Bobby Brink

Bobby Orr Brink (born July 8, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a right winger for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. The Flyers selected Brink in the second round, with the 34th overall pick, of the 2019 NHL entry draft. Brink has also represented the United States men's national junior ice hockey team at two IIHF World Junior Championships.

Raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Brink helped take Minnetonka High School to its first ice hockey championship in 2018. The next year, he was named the United States Hockey League (USHL) Forward of the Year for his 68-point season with the Sioux City Musketeers. From there, Brink spent three years with the Denver Pioneers. His college ice hockey career culminated with an NCAA tournament championship, the NCAA scoring title, and the NCHC Player of the Year award in 2022. Brink made his NHL debut in 2022, but injury and inconsistency relegated him to the American Hockey League (AHL) for long stretches until the 2024–25 season.

Early life Bobby Orr Brink was born July 8, 2001, in Minnetonka, Minnesota, to Andy and Holly Brink. His father, a former college ice hockey player for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was a minor ice hockey coach in Minnesota, and as a child, Brink would accompany his father to the ice rink. There, he had the opportunity to skate with his father's students, including future National Hockey League (NHL) player Mike Reilly. In addition to ice hockey, Brink also played lacrosse and golf as an adolescent. In 2018, Brink led Minnetonka High School to its first ice hockey state championship. That year, he had 21 goals and a team-leading 56 points in 31 games, including five goals in three state tournament games.

After the 2018 high school hockey season ended, Brink began his junior ice hockey career with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). There, he put up two goals and four points in 13 games of the 2017–18 season. Although he missed several games of the 2018–19 season with a fractured foot, Brink recorded 35 goals and 68 points in his first full season with Sioux City. He was awarded the 2019 USHL Forward of the Year award for his performance and was named to the league's first all-star team.

Playing career College After two seasons with the Musketeers, Brink entered college a year early, He recorded his first collegiate goal in his Pioneers debut, a 4–3 win over the Alaska Nanooks on October 5. During his freshman season, Brink received National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Rookie of the Month honors twice: in October, for recording six points in as many games; and in January, when he led all conference rookies with nine points in eight games. Brink missed time at the end of the season with two separate injuries: a strained medial collateral ligament and a cut on his ankle from a skate blade.

With his freshman season unexpectedly interrupted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ice hockey and other athletics, Brink spent the 2020 offseason practicing his skating at a local rink. He worked closely with professional figure skater Kathleen Gazich to improve his skating mechanics in preparation for the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season. When he did play, he struggled to score, recording only two goals and 11 points on a Pioneers team that failed to qualify for the 2021 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament.

Going into the 2021–22 season, Brink was named an alternate captain of the Pioneers, serving behind captain Cole Guttman. By January 13, Brink had set career highs with 19 assists and 26 points, and he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's college ice hockey player of the year. After a month during which he recorded 15 points in eight games, Brink was named both the NCHC and National Player of the Month for February. Brink finished his junior season with 14 goals and 57 points in 41 games, becoming Denver's first NCAA Scoring Champion since Ed Beers in 1982. In addition to being named the NCHC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, Brink was unanimously selected to the 2022 All-NCHC First Team and was recognized as an AHCA First Team All-American. He was a top-three finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, finishing behind Dryden McKay. Brink concluded his college ice hockey career as a 2022 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament champion, as Denver defeated the Minnesota State Mavericks by a 5–1 final score. In three seasons with the Pioneers, Brink recorded 27 goals and 92 points in 84 games.

Professional Philadelphia Flyers (2022–2026)

The Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Brink in the second round, 34th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft. On April 10, 2022, the day after winning a national championship with Denver, He joined the team immediately, making his NHL debut on April 12 against the Washington Capitals. Appearing in 10 games to close out the 2021–22 season, Brink assisted on four goals for the Flyers.

While training in preparation for the 2022–23 season, Brink tore his left acetabular labrum, requiring surgery and sidelining him for the start of the year. He returned to play on January 3 and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Philadelphia's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, to continue his adjustment to professional hockey. It was difficult for Brink to build stamina and return to his pre-injury form during his time with the Phantoms. Coach Ian Laperrière praised Brink's "hockey IQ and the skills that he's got", which allowed him to navigate his subdued physical capabilities. Brink also appeared in three playoff games with the Phantoms, recording one assist in the process. He scored his first two NHL goals on October 26, during Philadelphia's 6–2 win over the Minnesota Wild. After starting the season with six goals and 17 points through 29 games, Brink's quality of play declined by mid-January. On January 22, following a seven-game pointless streak and three healthy scratches in a row, Brink was demoted to Lehigh Valley to continue his development. After 11 games with the Phantoms, during which he posted six goals and 11 points, Brink returned to the Flyers on February 27. After putting up 11 goals and 23 points in 57 games for the Flyers, Brink was sent to Lehigh again on April 17, this time to push the Phantoms towards the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. He scored in the Phantoms' regular-season finale, a 3–0 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders to clinch a playoff position, and added four assists in six postseason games.

Prior to the 2024–25 season, the Flyers signed Brink to a two-year, $3 million contract extension. Building on his previous season, Brink told reporters that he wanted to increase his confidence and consistency as a two-way player the coming year. By December, Brink had found success on a line with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, as the trio scored a combined 25 points in their first 15 games together. By the end of February, Brink had played more minutes with Cates and Foerster than any other forward line combination on the Flyers. He attributed the trio's success to their predictability, as he could anticipate how his teammates would react during plays. By March, Brink had earned Tortorella's trust and received time on both the power play and penalty kill units. Tortorella particularly praised Brink's improved checking, which had been a point of contention the year prior. Brink finished the season with 12 goals and a career-high 41 points in 79 games, and he received the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the most improved Flyer of the season.

Under new coach Rick Tocchet, Brink began the 2025–26 season with three goals and seven points in his first nine games, and he received praise from captain Sean Couturier as "a complete player". On January 6, Brink left the Flyers' game against the Anaheim Ducks following a high hit from Jansen Harkins. He missed six games with a concussion, returning for Philadelphia's January 20 game against the Vegas Golden Knights. In 55 games with the Flyers that season, Brink scored 13 goals and recorded 26 points.

Minnesota Wild (2026–present) On March 6, 2026, the Flyers traded Brink to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for David Jiříček. He signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Wild on June 30.

International play

Brink made his international debut with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. After fracturing his ankle blocking a shot during the semifinal round, Brink's eight points were tied for the tournament lead, The following year, Brink joined Team USA again for the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships in Sweden. He recorded three goals and six points in five tournament games, including a goal in Team USA's bronze-medal victory over Team Canada. There, he posted one goal and one assist in five games as Team USA failed to medal, losing 1–0 to Team Finland in the quarterfinals. Brink returned to the team the following year for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Canada. There, he recorded two goals and six points in seven games en route to a gold medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2017–18 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 12 2 2 4 4 — — — — — 2018–19 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 43 35 33 68 22 — — — — — 2019–20 University of Denver NCHC 28 11 13 24 12 — — — — — 2020–21 University of Denver NCHC 15 2 9 11 4 — — — — — 2021–22 University of Denver NCHC 41 14 43 57 44 — — — — — 2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 10 0 4 4 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 41 12 16 28 15 3 0 1 1 2 2023–24 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 57 11 12 23 10 — — — — — 2023–24 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 13 7 6 13 2 6 0 4 4 4 2024–25 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 12 29 41 22 — — — — — 2025–26 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 55 13 13 26 20 — — — — — 2025–26 Minnesota Wild NHL 13 2 2 4 4 4 0 1 1 4NHL totals 214 38 60 98 56 4 0 1 1 4

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2018 United States WJAC 6 2 6 8 2 2019 United States U18 5 3 3 6 6 2020 United States WJC 6th 5 1 1 2 0 2021 United States WJC 7 2 4 6 2Junior totals 12 3 5 8 2

Awards and honors Award Year(s) Ref.USHL Forward of the Year 2019 All-USHL First Team 2019 College All-NCHC Rookie Team 2020 All-NCHC First Team 2022 Division I AHCA All-American First Team (West) 2022 NCAA Scoring Champion 2022 NCHC Forward of the Year 2022 NCHC Player of the Year 2022 IIHF World Junior A Challenge All-Star Team 2018 World Junior A Challenge Most Valuable Player 2018